Asian pear tree named &#34;asio 3&#34;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Asian Pear, botanically known as Pyrus pyrifolia is provided. The new cultivar forms attractive extra large substantially round fruit having a dark brown russet surface with tan lenticels and a distinctive semi-sweet mild flavor. The tree and exhibits moderate vigor and possesses a well-branched and an open spreading growth habit. The leaves are medium green in coloration with pinnate moderately-branched venation and a cuspidate apex. Picking of the fruit commonly can begin during late September at Coopersburg, Pa., U.S.A. Substantial and consistent fruit crops are formed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of AsianPear, botanically known as Pyrus pyrifolia, and hereinafter is referredto by the cultivar name `Asio 3`.

The new cultivar germinated from a seed as a distinctive seeding duringthe summer of 1983 while growing in a test orchard at 1506 Pleasant ViewRoad, Coopersburg, Pa., U.S.A. The new cultivar was discovered amongmany open-pollinated seedlings of an Asian Pear tree designated No. 6(non-patented in the United States) that were planted for test purposes.The seed that produced the No. 6 parent was obtained from Japan and wasformed on open-pollinated Asian Pear trees. It is impossible to furtheridentify the origin of the No. 6 parent. The seed that produced the newcultivar of the present invention was formed at Coopersburg, Pa., U.S.A.The male parent of the new cultivar is unknown. A large number of AsianPear varieties were growing in the area as well as a few varieties ofEuropean Pear. It is impossible to identify the parent plants of the newcultivar. A single tree of the new cultivar was discovered in the testorchard following selective study and initially was designated No. 530.

Since 1987 the original tree of the new cultivar has annually produced acrop of high quality Asian Pears.

It was found that the new `Asio 3` cultivar of the present invention:

(a) forms attractive late mid-season extra large substantially roundfruit having a dark brown russet surface with tan lenticels and asemi-sweet mild flavor,

(b) forms a medium-sized tree having a well-branched and an openspreading growth habit, and

(c) forms generally ovate medium green leaves with pinnate venation anda cuspidate apex.

It was found that the new `Asio 3` cultivar forms fruit that issubstantially round unlike the more conical fruit of the No. 6 parent.Also, the fruit of the `Asio 3` cultivar exhibits a distinctive mildsemi-sweet flavor unlike the more tart flavor of the No. 6 parent.

When the `Asio 3` cultivar is compared to the `Olympic` cultivar(non-patented in the United States), it is found that each forms extralarge fruit of substantially the same configuration. However, the `Asio3` cultivar exhibits fruit having a darker brown skin coloration, amilder flavor, and a flesh texture that is slightly less crisp whenmature.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by budding on `Bartlett`rootstock carried out at aspers, Pa., U.S.A. beginning during 1987, hasdemonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar as hereindisclosed are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of such asexual propagation.

`Asio 3` has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light, day length, contact with pesticides, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show in color as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of thischaracter the original tree of the new variety as well as plant partsthereof. The spreading tree was approximately 11 years of age and wasgrowing on its own roots at 1506 Pleasant View Road, Coopersburg, Pa.,U.S.A. All photographs with the exception of FIG. 6 were taken on Sep.14, 1994.

FIG. 1 illustrates the entire tree of the new variety wherein the mediumtree size and the well-branched, spreading, and open growth habit areapparent.

FIG. 2 illustrates a typical generally ovate leaflet of the new varietywherein the serration pattern, moderate pinnate venation, and cuspidateapex are more readily apparent.

FIG. 3 illustrates a typical limb of the new variety wherein thegenerally ovate leaves with finely serrated edges are apparent.

FIG. 4 illustrates a typical limb of the new variety wherein the leaveshave been removed so that the smooth appearance of the limb isunobstructed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a specimen of an extra large dark brown russet fruitof the new variety shortly prior to full maturity while present on thetree.

FIG. 6 illustrates additional specimens of the fruit of the new varietythat was harvested during late September, 1994, placed in refrigeratedstorage at approximately 32° F., and removed from such storage andphotographed on Dec. 4, 1994. A measuring stick in inches is provided atthe bottom of the photograph for comparative purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors described hereafteris The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England. In some instances common color terms are used which are to beaccorded their ordinary dictionary significance. The trees describedwere being grown under standard orchard conditions at Coopersburg, Pa.,U.S.A.

Classification:

Botanical.--Pyrus pyrifolia (P. serotina), cv. `Asio 3`.

Commercial.--Asian Pear.

Tree:

Size.--Medium. The original tree at the age of 12 years is approximately13 feet tall. Three years following the field planting of a tree thatwas budded 11/2 years earlier on `Bartlett` rootstock, a tree height ofapproximately 5 feet commonly will be observed. Five years followingfield planting of a tree that was budded 11/2 years earlier on`Bartlett` rootstock, a tree height of approximately 8 feet commonlywill be observed.

Growth habit.--Moderate vigor.

Configuration.--Spreading.

Density.--Open and well-branched.

Hardiness.--Hardy in wood and bud.

Fruit bearing.--Productive.

Bearing habit.--Annually on second-year and older wood with the fruitbeing borne laterally and terminally on second year and older shoots, aswell as laterally on spurs.

Trunk.--Medium diameter and deeply grooved.

Branches.--Thickness: medium, strong, and tend to be flattened on oneside. Bark texture: smooth (as illustrated). Frequency: moderatebranching density with approximately 4 to 6 branches typicallyoriginating per two feet of trunk. However, the leaf mass per unit oftree volume commonly is less than that of a typical Asian Pear treethereby resulting in a somewhat reduced canopy density. Branch angles:the angles of the main scaffold branches commonly are approximately 45degrees under natural growing conditions. Such branches typically settleto approximately 60 to 90 degrees under the weight of the fruit load.When limb spreaders are employed, branch angles of approximately 90degrees can be achieved thereby resulting in earlier fruit bearing. Barkcolor: medium brown on younger wood. Lenticels: some prominent and tanin coloration.

Leaves.--Size: long, commonly approximately 11.3 cm. in length onaverage. Configuration: generally ovate. Base: rounded. Apex: cuspidate.Margin: serrulate (as illustratd in FIG. 2). Venation: pinnate with manyfine branches. Thickness: medium. Color upper surface: during a typicalgrowing season is medium green, Green Group 135A, and during the fall isYellow-Green Group 21A. Color under surface: during a typical growingseason is silvery green, Yellow-Green Group 138A, and during the fall isOrange Group 26B. Petiole: medium in length, and commonly approximately3.5 cm. in length.

Flowers.--Season: mid-season, and generally concurrent with the`Olympic` cultivar. During 1993, the first bud break occurred on April16th, and full bloom occurred on May 1st. During 1994, the first budbreak occurred on April 16th, and full bloom occurred on April 26th.Size: medium, and commonly approximately 3.3 cm in diameter on average.Color: white, White Group 155A. Pollen: viable pollen is produced whichhas enabled `Asio 3` to be utilized as a pollen parent in interspecificcrosses that have been carried out annually since 1988. When attemptshave been made to self-pollinate `Asio 3`, no resulting fruit has set todate. Accordingly, the preliminary indications are that `Asio 3` may beself-infertile. bearing: commonly in a corymb of 6 to 8 flowers.Configuration: the reproductive organs are typical of the species. Theflowers generally possess five pistils and bear fruit having five setsof carpels. However, some flowers have been observed having six pistils.When six pistils are present, one pistil commonly is substantiallyshorter than the others, but is viable as evidenced by the recovery offruit specimens bearing approximately 11 to 12 seeds.

Fruit.--Season of maturity: late mid-season maturing approximately thesame as the `Olympic` cultivar. During 1993, the first picking was onSeptember 25th and the last picking was on October 10th. During 1994,the first picking was on September 27th and the last picking was onOctober 7th. Bearing: most of the fruit is borne laterally on spurs;however, some fruit also can be produced laterally on shoots. Size:extra large, and commonly approximately 9 to 12 cm. in diameter. Thefruit weight commonly ranges from approximately 350 to 600 grams. It isrecommended that the fruit be thinned in order to encourage theformation of the larger-sized fruit within the specified range. If thefruit is unthinned the tree will nevertheless produce fruit ofmarketable size; however, tree damage may occur due to the weight of thefruit. Configuration: substantially round. Neck: absent. Stem: medium inlength, thick, and clubbed. Cavity: acuminate. Basin: obtuse. Calyx:open, and deciduous. Skin: green ground cover with dark brown russetsurface and numerous lighter tan lenticels (as illustrated). Thelenticels sometimes are prominent. The skin is completely russet. Theskin commonly is Greyed-Orange Group 164A, and the lenticels commonlyare Greyed-Orange Group 165D. Flesh: very juicy, white, and crisp. Thedegree of crispness at maturity is slightly less than that of the`Olympic` cultivar. Flavor: semi-sweet (TSS 10 to 12 Brix), and mildwith low acid. The distinctive fruit flavor of the new cultivar ismilder than that of the `Olympic` cultivar. The fruit flavor is verymild. The sweetness of the fruit is believed to be much less intensethan that of the `Olympic` cultivar. Such fruit flavor is believed to besubstantially uniform throughout the fruit. Core: median. Carpels:elliptical, with axial symmetry. Seeds: commonly 6 to 10 per fruit,commonly 1 or 2 per carpel, medium-sized, commonly flattened on oneside, and dark brown in coloration. Quality: very good. Keeping quality:very good, can be stored at least 2 months in good condition at 32° F.Fire blight resistance: no inoculations for fire blight screening havebeen carried out; however, it is believed that at least some resistanceto fire blight is being exhibited. For instance, when fire blightstrikes have occured in the orchard where `Asio 3` was being grown, nofire blight has been observed in `Asio 3`.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Asian Pear, substantially asillustrated and described, which:(a) forms attractive late mid-seasonextra large substantially round fruit having a dark brown russet surfacewith tan lenticels and a semi-sweet mild flavor, (b) forms amedium-sized tree having a well-branched and an open spreading growthhabit, and (c) forms generally ovate medium green leaves with pinnatevenation and a cuspidate apex.